August 13th Billy Decker Dominates Richie Evans Remembered Event at Utica-Rome By Don and Jo Ann Davies VERNON, NY - The once postponed “Richie Evans Remembered” 61 laps Race of Champions Dart Dirt Modified Series event was all Billy Decker as he cruised home to victory at Utica-Rome Speedway driving the LJL Racing #91 big block powered Bicknell mount. Decker took the lead immediately at the drop of the green and added another win to his impressive string of victories scored to date in 2008. Richie Evans, who began his racing career at Utica-Rome Speedway in201962 at the track drag strip, made the switch to Modifieds in 1965. That marked the beginning of his legendary career. “Just like Babe Ruth is synonymous with the New York Yankees,” stated track owner Gene Cole, “Richie Evans is synonymous with Utica-Rome. Retiring his number, the famous black and orange 61, is how we chose to recognize his great career.” Evans, who tragically lost his life in a 1985 practice crash at Martinsville (VA) Speedway, was famous locally for his 33 wins and four track titles in a 13 year career at the popular Vernon, NY oval. Amassing nearly 500 wins at 38 different speedways including 26 track championships at 11 different tracks, Evans was a local hero. The nine time NASCAR Modified champion and his famous “Big Orange” hauler were known throughout the country and family members and friends gathered to pay him tribute. That tribute to Richie Ev ans included running a 61 lap Race of Champions Modified special event paying a whopping $6161.61 and retiring his famous number, 61, from competition. Decker immediately opened a sizable lead with Billy Van Pelt in hot pursuit from his third starting spot. Before the first caution flag flew on lap 11 for a flat tire on the Chad Phelps, Haun Welding Supply car, the leader had already begun lapping the rear of the 28 car field. While Decker was establishing a new track record of 18.5 sec. on the half mile oval, there was plenty of position swapping happening with Pat Ward moving into second on the lap 11 restart. Ward’s fine run was stalled on lap 17 as the fourth caution came out when Ward suffered a flat right rear tire. At that same time Ronnie Johnson and Ryan Phelps also headed to the pits to replace flat tires as well. The caution was out again on lap 37 when multi-time track feature winner and current track champion Stewart Friesen lost a motor in his Teo-Pro car . With Jimmy Phelps aboard the J & B Installations sponsored Troyer car, the main contender from the midpoint of the event, he very nearly got the break he was looking for when Decker slid over the turn two banking. Decker managed to execute a great save, coming back on the track and holding the lead. In a post-race interview Decker joked he was “out picking worms and I’m not even going fishing tomorrow.” Late in the race Alan Johnson, driving the Andy’s Service sponsored, Jake Spraker owned #1J, made a strong charge to move into the top three. Early in the race Johnson had been hampered by vision problems as a tear off got stuck on the window screening and his visor had fogged up. As the checkered flag waved as the 61 green flag laps were completed it was Billy Decker, Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, Willy Decker and Brett Hearn making the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Steve Hulsizer, Pat Ward, Steve Paine, Bobby Varin and Brian Weaver. The Pro Stocks were the first feature event on the “Richie Evans Remembered” card with 21 cars going to the initial green flag. A. J. Digsby grabbed the early lead from the pole with Joe Palmer contending for the lead from the onset. By lap 5 Brett Belden had moved from the eighth starting spot to the runner-up position and quickly jumped into the lead on a restart caused by the Dave Meeks mount erupting in smoke. With Belden comfortable in front, Rob Seavy moved into the second spot while division point leader Jim Normoyle was on the charge from his 11th starting position. After losing several positions in a turn 4 tangle, Normoyle recovered to finish third behind winner Brett Belden and second20place finisher Rob Seavy. Shawn Frost and Bill Knapp rounded out the top five. “RICHIE EVANS REMEMBERED” QUICK RESULTS RACE OF CHAMPIONS DART DIRT MODIFIED SERIES FEATURE FINISH (61 LAPS)- BILLY DECKER, Jimmy Phelps, Alan Johnson, Willy Decker, Bret Hearn, Steve Hulsizer, Pat Ward, Steve Paine, Bobby Varin, Brian Weaver, Jeff Rudalavage, Alan Barker, Jim Davis, Larry Wight, Paul Kinney, Billy VanPelt, Gus Schmidt, Chad Phelps, Mike Colsten, Paul Jensen, Jackie Brown Jr., Billy Shantel Jr., Mitch Gibbs, Ryan Phelps, Stewart Friesen, Jamie Christian, Ronnie Johnson, and Bob Henry Jr. DNQ- Tony Steiner, Darwin Greene, Jeff Kotary, Mike Ward, Jeremy Vunk, John Ramsey, Mike Ricci, John Ramsey, Brian Murphy, Bill Trexler, Tim Nye, John Lutes Jr., and Ted Lamb. PRO STOCK FEATURE FINISH (20 LAPS)- BRET BELDEN, Rob Seavy, Jim Normoyle, Shawn Frost, Bill Knapp, Tom Denton, Dan Ody, Jack Terrell, Jerry Holmes, Matt Shadic, Ivan Joslin, Ed Ostrander, Joe Palmer, AJ Digsby, Rich Dauenhauer, Rick Trexler, Dave Moyer, Chris Mackey, Jim Grippin, Dave Meeks, and Mark Effner.